SAESM
Initiative
GROUP RESEARCH PROJECT Competition
On
COVID Pandemic and South
ASIA
The
South Asian Economics Students Meet (SAESM) founded in 2004 is a regional platform,
which brings young and bright undergraduate economic students from across South
Asia for an exciting conference in a beautiful South Asian city every year. This
unique informal network consists of students/faculties from prestigious
universities like Dhaka University, University of Colombo, students of various
university of India, Lahore University of Management Sciences, Tribhubhan
University, Kabul University and Sherubtse and Royal Thimpu College/Bhutan. During
the Meet undergraduates from all seven countries of our region learn, explore
and exchange ideas about the socio-economic challenges, which face our
countries and the region through presenting research papers on the conference
theme.
This
year as we are all faced with a unique and menacing challenge- Covid 19. The
global pandemic has effected everyone without distinction and threatens to
alter the way we function as a society. While the disease poses serious
socio-economic challenges, it also provides us a rare opportunity to think
together about the varied socio-economic impact of such pandemics and effective
policies to counter it today and in the future. Against this background, SAESM
is excited to launch a new initiative
in the form of a Group Research Project, (GRP) which allows
students of South Asian colleges/universities to COLLABORATE virtually- think create design and execute a research
project.
The
broad indicative themes around which the projects are expected-(1) labour,
migration and unemployment; (2) industry/manufacturing/value chains; (3) Trade
and Investment; (4) Healthand (5) education.
Other ideas/themes are also welcome.
Important points for students
A.
Students keen on being part of this GRP should send in a 2-page expression of
interest stating (1) why collaborative engagementcan address challenges of
research especially of COVID and South Asia and (2) which BROAD theme they
think is important for assessing COVID impact and accordingly which theme is
he/she applying for.Respective country networks of SAESM may chose additional
criterion if required for selection.Interested students must be full time
student of undergraduate program in Economics at a South Asian university at
the time of applying. Applications should be addressed to the respective
country coordinators.
B.
A
research groupwill be formed with selected applicants from each South
Asian countries. Each group will consist of seven students, one each from a
South Asian country. The groups formed will have a unique opportunity to
come together virtually and undertake their research agenda collectively.
C.
Each group of seven members define a problem
related to COVID and its impact on the region in the form of an
interesting, well thought out and intelligently designed group
research proposal.We expect them to come
up with “research title and some hypothesis that they intend to explore”
The groups will get 3 weeks to decide on a problem and develop the group
proposal collectively.
D.
The
research groupswill have6 months to work on the project
and submit a report/paper to the Project coordinators. Facultiesfrom South
Asian colleges/university will mentor each group as the research advisors.
E.
The project will be co supported by the World Bank.
Certificates will be provided to each member after completion of the project co
supported by SAESM and World Bank.
Important Deadlines
1.
Last date of
application- 15thOctober 2020
2.
A meeting of selected
students and groups- October 31 ,2020
(WEBINAR)
3.
Deadline for submission
of project and its outline- 30thNovember ,2020
4.
Start of project- 1st December,2020
5.
Submission of projects-31st
May 2021
Country
coordinators
1.
Afghanistan: Professor Sayed Fatah Sadat
(Kabul University, Afghanistan)
2.
Bangladesh: Professor Sayeema Bidisha (
University of Dhaka, Bangladesh)
3.
Bhutan: MrUgyen Lendhup ( Sherubtse College, Bhutan)
4.
India:
Dr Mihir Pandey ( Ramjas College, University of Delhi, India)
5.
Nepal: Mr Naveen Adhikari ( Central
Department of Economics
Tribhuvan University, Nepal)
6.
Pakistan: Dr Ali Hasnain ( Lahore School
of Management Sciences, Pakistan)
7.
Sri Lanka: Dr Shanuka Senarath (
University of Colombo, Sri Lanka)
Overall
coordinators
Dr Deb Kusum Das, India
Professor Sayeema Bidisha, Bangladesh
